No Death Penalty for Zolo

The capital murder case of Zolo Agona Azania has come to an end, with the state agreeing to dismiss its death penalty
request, and Zolo agreeing to accept a sentence of 60 years for murder, and 14 years for robbery. With two co-defendants, Zolo was
convicted in 1982 for the 1981 murder of Gary Police Lt. George Yaros during a bank robbery. He was sentenced to death twice, with each
death sentence reversed by the Indiana Supreme Court. Then Judge Steven David dismissed the state's request to seek a third death
sentence and the Indiana Supreme Court reinstated that request. The third penalty trial was set to begin next Monday, 10/20. At today's
hearing, Zolo, the state, and the trial court agreed that this is an acceptable resolution for this case, and once it was done, Judge
Altice praised all five lawyers and Zolo himself, and came down off the bench to shake Zolo's hand and wish him good
luck. Congratulations to Zolo, and to his defense attorneys, Jessie Cook, Michael Deutsch, and John Stainthorpe. With good time credit,
and with his 27 years served, Zolo will serve a maximum of 10 more years.

Previous Posts

On May 10th, 2007 the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that Zolo Azania shall have a third death penalty trial, the decision said in part:

"We find that neither the delay nor any prejudice that Azania may suffer from it violates his constitutional rights. The State may continue to seek the death penalty."

Read decision

Zolo Agona Azania has been on death row for almost 25 years. His trial was filled with documented injustices
including suppression of evidence, coercion of witnesses, and intimidation of the defense.

His death sentence has been overturned twice. A quarter of a century later,
Indiana wants to hold a third death penalty trial,despite the fact that key
witnesses are dead and important evidence is no longer available.

On May 1, 2005, Indiana Judge Steve David granted Zolo's motion to bar the State of Indiana from
seeking the death penalty for the third time. As Judge David's decision points out, it is impossible for
Zolo to receive a fair trial on the death penalty, one that guarantees he receive the constitutional
protections he is entitled to so long after the crime he is accused of committing took place.
The State filed an appeal and all activity in the case is stopped until the Indiana Supreme Court reviews
Judge David's opinion. Zolo's legal team, headed up by Michael E. Deutsch of the People's Law Office in Chicago,
argued to the court that the State of Indiana should not be allowed to continue seeking the death penalty for
Zolo on June 27, 2006.

Hear the Oral Argument

After the oral Argument there was a press conference held by the supporters of Zolo,
Michael Deutsch, Rep. Charlie Brown, Chris Hitz-Bradley and Rev. Charles Doyle spoke

Hear the Press Conference

For more information contact:

No Death Penalty for Zolo!
PO Box 478314
Chicago, IL 60647
zoloazania@gmail.com
www.zoloazania.org